Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-06-11
TO LEARN A TRADE.
The Difficulties I'm the Way OF the
American Boy.

/ HE DlfficuIttes I'm the way OF the
| American Boy.
THE RULES OF LABOR ORGANIZATIONS REGARDING AP-
| PRENTICEs AND WHAT Is SAID OF THEM-BoTH SIDES
OF A DEBATED QUEsTIoS-JUDGE MAC ARTHUR SAYS
AMERICAN BOYS ARE ALIENS IN THEIR OWN LAND.
Among the questions arising constantly to
plague not only labor organizations and employ.
ers but also parents who have boys whom they
would like TO put to trade is that OF apprentices
and the regulations governing their admission to
| workshops Labor organizations assign various
reasons for the restrictive regulations they seek to
enforce respecting the number Of apprentices per-
mitted to each employer, or each shop. They as
sert that unless some restrictions were made,
avartcious employers would employ 80 far "a they
could the cheaper labor OF half.trained boys,
| to the exclusion OF skilled 1ourneymen.
Some hold also that under the present system, or
lack OF system, which places no obligation upon
the employer or the apprentice, to multiply the
number OF apprentices would tend only to increase
other SIDE it is asserted that the rules enforced by
laoor unions tend TO prevent American boys from
acquiring a trades, and to bring about such condi-
! ton OF affairs that the demand for skilled labor
| has to be largely supplied from Europe. Asso-
GATED with the question OF apprenticeship is that
ing earnestly discussed by educators and by work.
| 1ngmen'S organizations. STAR reporters have In
consideration to these questions or who are lden-
titled with one or the other class interested, and
the results are herewith presented.
THE VIEWS OF JUDGE MAC ARTHUR.
Judge Macarthur has given much thought and
study to the question Of industrial education He
Is deeply interested in boys who ore forced into
ldleness, where they would gladly learn some
trade 10 make them useful and Self-suppOrting in
,r ne He thinks that the rules Of
boys who may be received at apprenticeship
though intended for good, actually do great harm
70 american industries. ''They exclude Americans
from the trades" he satd TO STAR reporter, who
called 10 TAX with him on the subject land make
us dependent upon foreigners who come here with
their trades already learned. II American boys
are not given chance to learn trades they
cannot become good workmen, and employers
secure the services OF skilled foreigners who have
hid the unrestricted advantages OF industrial edu
cation. do not question the good intention of
the labor ORGANIZATIONS; only say that their prac.
tce In this particular is unwiSe The truth Is that
the more skiiul our workmen are the better is the
general condition of labor and the higher the
wages. The tone OF society, as whole, is elevated
Dy increasing the skill OF the workmen.
THE OLD APPRENTICESHIP SYSTEM.
'Our industries" he continued, 'can no longer
rely upon regular or sufficient supply,Of work.
men as was formerly furnished by apprenticeship.
This arises from causes that one can appreciate.
In the first place, the Intervention Of machinery
has greatly diminished the range of hand-work,
and labor IS divided almost Indefinitely. There
are 3;52 mechanical and manufacturing industries
enumerated in the census OF the United States for
1850; but these subdiyided into several thou.
sands of speciaittes. The consequence is that men
autOmatOnS and are part OF the machine they
work at having not the least idea OF the cOnStruc-
ton OF the whole article OF which they making
part. Boys taken into some great mandatory
TO learn trade are never instructed in the trade
at all. They are simply put to some mental work,
and never gain any useful knowledge.
TIE RULES OF LABOR ORGANIZATIONS
another thing that lessons the number of
skilled workmen," the judge continued, '.s the
very unwtse rule have referred to- by which
labor organizations exclude many boys who want
TO learn trades You and both know lots of boys
who would like TO be able to acquire Skill at some
industry, but cannot get the opportunity. They
grow up without trades and have no skill which
they can turn to be OF use to the community and
for the support OF themselves This explains the
increasing number OF skilled workmen who come
TO this country from Europe to engage in all Of
skilled industries, especially those that depend
upon design and taste. Will inform you that two
thirds IL not fourhtkS, or his artisans foreign
ers. They are mostly educated in the industrial
methods of Europe, and, although they are re-
eeived here without regard to national
ceiyed in their own country, generally
form society that excludes the American
boy from learning trade. l noticed not long ago
where young man WAS refused admission into q
workshop where there were 80 artisans OF foreign
birth. You may say that foreigners cannot be ex-
e Is the sS % the
States 20 receive all who come, but why should
Our own children be made aliens in their own
country We are sensitive about the Monroe
doctrine while the subjects Of other states are
landing upon our shores in greater numbers than
The Goihs and Huns that overwhelmed Southern
demand In this country for skilled workmen, and
our own people who want employment cannot
fulfill the requirements because they have been
denied the vantages OF industrial education. We
do not want TO prohibit immigration. The right
way TO correct the evil Is by
GIVING OUR BOYS CHANCE
to become skilled. We know that the old prem
tice system is no longer adapted to the manners
OF modern society, and that the great industries
have raised new problems for which new methods
are required. The foundation Of knowledge In the
school system In Europe there are industrial
Institutes at which a particular trade Is taught
TO its completion. / should hardly propose that
here. The resources OF the State would scarcely
be sufficient TO sustain as many manual schools
as there are different trades, but teaching can be
organized for similar industries in such a way as
will not contine the student to any one kind
OF work, but will give him general infor-
nation that Will be OF value to fit him for
within which TO move, that he may make
his choice, whether IL is to be carpenter ma
chnst an pPnoisterer designer silyersmth,
should be attached to the lower grades of the
schools, and the students should be taught the use
chisels, drawing knives, &C. They should he
taught design, and given a familiarity with ma
terial, how IL IS used, what for, and why. They
should be given knowledge OF the kinds OF woods
their relative strength, the fiber and grain and for
what purposes certain kinds of wood are best
dudptcL lucy SLoulu w given d PRACTICAL and
scientific knowledge OF the composition of differ
ent kinds OF stone its strength dura biity how
IL IL best worked and the Like. The same as TO
metals and all other such materials used In the
trades. With knowledge Of drawing, OF how TO
handle tools, and OF the qualities and character.
tSticS OF materials, they are capable OF taking
hold of any trade that may be their choice and
learning II willingly, lnteliigently and SkilfIiy
Practical mechanical drawing, with some design.
ing Is particularly valuable There is nothing that
| Is made that does not have first to be designed
either mentally or with pencil
INDUSTRIAL TRAINING IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
"The majority or the children who attend the
public schools" said the judge, 'wil probably be
| dependent upon their own industry for a living.
and their education should prepare them for their
| after occupation They should be well grounded
In the first principles OF mechanics, and the In.
structionS IN the mechanical industries should be-
gin early and proceed with their general course OF
education. They will then begin TO learn any
about it, and they will force their way to the front
rank OF skilled wOrkmen. The choice OF trade Is
not a matter OF very great importance. The An.
premiership is half done by the training thew
have had In the Industrial schools. They are ready
10 learn the techncalites OF any oftne Industries
mer, the plane and the ile and the tools OF all the
trades are familiar TO them. To perfect themselves
In any trade is only matter OF acquiring the use
or the proper tools on the double quick, and with
a dexterous facility, In order TO equal the hest
wOrkmen. and they will have the advantage over
other workmen that they have been Carefully
trained In the theory and science of the trade
TALK WITH MR. BOWEN.
Mr.. Paul 7. Bowen, member Of the legislative
COMMITTEES Of the Knights OF Labor, had charge
OF the apprentice legislation that was proposed